Incontinence Challenges Don’t Need To Be Challenging Anymore

Today we’re talking about a common issue that’s faced by people all over the country, yet is rarely spoken about openly: continence challenges. Whether it’s pregnancy and postpartum incontinence or caring for a loved one with continence issues, these challenges can have a significant impact on our daily lives. There are a plethora of reasons why a person may suffer from continence issues, and that is why I’m so pleased to be able to share some valuable information and resources with you in this blog post.

Assisted Daily Living Products To Help With Everyday Life

Before we dive in, I want to introduce you to a fantastic company called the Complete Care Shop. They are renowned for providing a wide range of assisted daily living products in the UK, from wheelchairs to stairlift installations – and everything in between! They truly are dedicated to making the lives of their customers easier, so be sure to check them out if you, or a loved one, require some new assisted living supplies.

World Continence Week

Now, let’s get back to the topic at hand. Did you know that there’s an entire week dedicated to spreading awareness of continence issues? Well, there is! World Continence Week happens to be just around the corner and takes place between 20th-26th June. 

Because of this, I thought that now would be the perfect time to raise awareness and break down any social stigma surrounding continence challenges. Complete Care Shop is also taking part in this initiative, so I couldn’t be happier to share their campaign with you and do my bit to help raise awareness.

Incontinence Is More Common Than Many People Think

At first thought, you may not feel that this campaign is entirely relevant to you, however, I’m here to remind you that continence issues aren’t predominantly related to the age of a person. There are so many causes for continence issues, and not everyone will suffer from continence issues for a long time as there are both long-term and short-term incontinence conditions.

So, whether you’re suffering from continence issues personally, or you’re seeking advice and help when it comes to caring for a loved one with continence problems, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the following types of incontinence that you could be up against. 

• Stress Incontinence: This is when the pressure inside your bladder as it fills with urine becomes greater than the strength of your urethra, meaning it’s unable to stay closed. Sudden pressure on your bladder, such as laughing or sneezing, can cause urine to leak. 
• Urge Incontinence: Having an urgent and frequent need to urinate can be a sign that you have issues with the muscles in the walls of your bladder. Sometimes these muscles contract too often and create the urgent need to go to the toilet – this is known as an overactive bladder.
• Overflow Incontinence: Also called chronic urinary retention, it is usually caused by a blockage or obstruction that affects the ability to empty the bladder. The pressure from the urine builds up behind the obstruction and causes frequent leaks. 
• Total Incontinence: As the name suggests, total incontinence is when the bladder is unable to store any urine at all. 

These types of continence issues can affect anyone, however, many people reading this article may have personally struggled with stress incontinence.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Stress Incontinence

Mums up and down the country, including myself, will have experienced continence issues during pregnancy as well as postpartum incontinence. Stress incontinence is especially common because of the muscle damage caused during childbirth, particularly vaginal childbirth. This type of incontinence also occurs when there’s increased pressure on your stomach during pregnancy.

This is a common issue that many mums face, but it isn’t a topic that is often discussed openly. Advice from Jude on managing stress incontinence can be particularly helpful for new mums navigating these challenges for the first time.

So I’m here, along with the information present on the CCS campaign, to break the silence on pregnancy and postpartum continence issues.

It’s essential to know that you’re not alone and that there are solutions available to help you regain control and confidence.

If you’re worried about stress incontinence and the effect that it is having on your confidence and self-esteem, it may be worth looking into incontinence aids. Using aids such as the products available from Complete Car Shop will help you to fully embrace motherhood and take away any insecurities or worries that you may have about leakages. From discreet pads and protective underwear to innovative products designed specifically for new mums, they have you covered. 

Break The Stigma During World Continence Week

As we approach World Continence Week, we should take the opportunity to raise awareness and promote understanding of the various continence issues that could potentially affect us. This is especially true for mums as we need to break the stigma surrounding continence and support one another, in order to create a more inclusive and compassionate society. 

So mums, let’s break the silence and shed some light on the realities of pregnancy and postpartum incontinence. By sharing our stories and experiences, we can normalise these issues and let other mums know that they are not alone. It’s time to banish the shame and embarrassment associated with continence challenges, and instead, encourage society to become more empathic and understanding.

*This is a collaborative post